Ways to Give

Page content

September 17, 2012

Explore Bacon’s Rebellion at Historic Jamestowne

Programs at Historic Jamestowne on Sept. 22 mark the 336th anniversary of Bacon’s Rebellion including a re-enactment of the burning of Jamestown.

“Governor Berkeley Laments the Rebellion.” Join Gov. William Berkeley at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3 p.m. at the Memorial Church as he recounts his time in Virginia and the circumstances that led to Bacon’s Rebellion and the burning of Virginia’s 17th-century capital.

“The Beginning, Progress and Conclusion of Bacon’s Rebellion.” Citizens were forced to choose to follow Nathaniel Bacon, the rebel leader, or Governor Sir William Berkeley, the Crown’s representative. Thomas Matthew, a Burgess in 1676, offers details of this dramatic event through his eyewitness account. The tour begins at 7 p.m. at the Tercentennial Monument overlooking the James River. The 75-minute program includes a tour through the colonial town site and encounters with several other residents. Controlled fires re-create the burning of Jamestown. In case of rain, this program will be presented in the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center Theater.

Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a flashlight and insect repellent.

Carrot Tree Kitchens at the Dale House Café is open until 6:45 p.m., serving food and beverages on Saturday night.

The Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center and museum store remain open until 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

The programs are free with paid admission to Historic Jamestowne. The admission fee is $10 per adult and includes both Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield. Children under age 16 are admitted free. America the Beautiful National Parks passes are accepted and Preservation Virginia members are also admitted free. For further information, call (757) 229-4997.

These programs are presented jointly by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Historic Jamestowne.

Historic Jamestowne is located at 1368 Colonial Parkway on Jamestown Island, seven miles west of Williamsburg. It can be reached via the Colonial Parkway or VA State Route 31.

Historic Jamestowne is jointly administered by the National Park Service and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (on behalf of Preservation Virginia) and preserves the original site of the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

Guests to Historic Jamestowne share the moment of discovery with archaeologists and witness archaeology in action at the 1607 James Fort excavation April-October; learn about the Jamestown Rediscovery excavation at the Nathalie P. and Alan M. Voorhees Archaearium, the site's archaeology museum; tour the original 17th-century church tower and reconstructed 17th-century Jamestown Memorial Church; and take a walking tour with a Park Ranger through the New Towne area along the scenic James River. Guests can also enjoy lunch or a snack by the James River at the Dale House Café.

Preservation Virginia, a private non-profit organization and statewide historic preservation leader founded in 1889, is dedicated to perpetuating and revitalizing Virginia's cultural, architectural and historic heritage thereby ensuring that historic places are integral parts of the lives of present and future generations. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is the not-for-profit educational and cultural organization dedicated to the preservation, interpretation and presentation of the restored 18th-century Revolutionary capital of Virginia.

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is the not-for-profit educational and cultural organization dedicated to the preservation, interpretation and presentation of the restored 18th-century Revolutionary capital of Virginia. This town-sized living history museum tells the inspirational stories of our journey to become Americans through the award-winning Revolutionary City® program.

Revolutionary City is a registered trademark of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Williamsburg is located in Virginia’s Tidewater region, 20 minutes from Newport News, within an hour’s drive of Richmond and Norfolk, and 150 miles south of Washington, D.C. For more information about Colonial Williamsburg, call 1-800-HISTORY or visit Colonial Williamsburg’s website at www.history.org.